Balanced door



Nov. 5, 1935.

E. H. l-:LLlsoN BALANCED DOOR vFiled April 27,' 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 D ..m WHIHI.

' BYTHEIR'ATTQRNEYS .Nov- 5, 1935.

E. H. ELLlsoN BALANCED DOOR Filed April 27. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORy EDWARD H. ELL/50M BY THER ATTORNEYS E. H. ELLISON Nov. 5, 1935.

BALANCED DOOR Filed April 27, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nm .v A@ A S QM VENTORA EDWARD h'. ELL/SON BYTHEIR ATTORNEYS NGV. 5, 1935. E` H ELUSQN 2,019,526

BALANCED DOOR Filed April 27, 1951 6 Sheets-Shea?I 4 INVENTOR- Emmnp 11.54150 BY THEIR ATTORNEYS BALANCED DooR` INVENTORv EMA/w H. EL/.fso/J BY THEIR ATTORNEYS Nov. 5, 1935. l v E. H. ELLlsON 2,919,526

BALANCED DOOR Filed Apil 27, 1951 e sheets-sheet 6 IN VENTO Rf EDWARD H ELL/80N BY THEIR ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.d

Ellison Bronze Company,

Inc., Jamestown,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 27, 1931, Serial No. 533,147

26 Claims.

The present invention relates to doors and embodies, more specifically, an improved door and door mounting construction by means of which ease of operation and simplicity of construction and assembly are accomplished.

More specically, the invention comprises a door and door mounting construction of the above character, wherein an effective balance of a door is obtained to render the same easy to open and to maintain closed against high wind pressures and other disturbing influences. In this connection, where doors are used for service in entrances and vestibules of oice and public buildings, the doors are required to swing outwardly and the wind pressure thereagainst has made such doors extremely difficult to-operate. In doors of this character, door closers must be used which exert pressures upon the doors to maintain them closed against wind pressure from the inside, as for example, due to a current of air into the vestibule through one or more doors which are opened from the outside. The pressure required in these door closers adds to the difculty of opening the doors and thus frequently becomes objectionable.

The present invention proposes to balance doors of this character by mounting them in such fashion that part of the door swings inwardly while the other part swings outwardly. In this fashion, the pressures exerted upon one side of the door are in substantial equilibrium in view of the fact that part of such pressure tends to open the door and part tends to maintain the same closed. This construction obviously requires less normal pressure to maintain the door closed and hence permits a door closer construction to be employed having a comparatively slight spring pressure.

Furthermore, the construction is such that all of the parts may be conveniently contained within the door, thus avoiding unsightly projections and irregular contours. The construction thus permits free application of architectural design. The door construction is further adapted to receive all modern improvements which it is desired to apply thereto and is of adequate strength to withstand the severe stresses and strains impressed thereon in service of this character.

On object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide an improved door mounting means whereby wind pressures upon the sides of a door may be equalized and the resistance heretofore produced thereby eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door mounting mechanism of the above character wherein a door closer may be utilized having a comparatively slight spring pressure serving to maintain a door normally closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of the above character, Wherein the mounting and auxiliary elements are maintained within the door in order that the architectural design and beauty of the door may be preserved.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved door mounting mechanism yby means of which the adjustable spacing of the door vertically may be effected.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved door closing mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closing mechanism for doors, wherein the mechanism is contained Within the door structure.

A further object o-f the invention is to provide an improved door mounting and closing mechanism, wherein the wind pressure upon the door may be equalized in such fashion that no resistance to opening or closing thereof results, at the same time providing a door closing mechanism which offers a comparatively slight resistance to such movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved holding mechanism for holding a balanced door in its open position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting mechanism for balancing doors against win-d pressures, such mechanism including mounting arms in combination with a straightening out or door closing mechanism, as Well as a door check.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting mechanism for doors of the above character by means of which the same may be readily installed and dismounted, the mechanism further being adapted for use in connection with j ambs of varying height.

Further objects, not specically enumerated above, will be apparent as the invention'is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation, showing a door and door mounting mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in section, taken on line 2-2 of Figure l, and looking in the direction of the arrows, this figure showing the door mounting mechanism in plan.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, sho-wing one door moved to a fully open position and another door moved to a partially opened position.

Figure 4 is a view in section, taken on a plane indicated by the line 4 4 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows, this figure showing the straightening out device fo-r a door constructed in accordance with the present invention, also the door check device, adjustable hinge pin, and holding device for holding the door in an o-pen position.

Figure 5 is a view in section, taken on line 5 5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the device for holding the door in an open position.

Figure 6 is a view in section, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows, this view showing the upper door mounting arm.

Figure 7 is a view in section, showing the lower bearing for the door mounting mechanism, this bearing being adjustable vertically to vary the height of the door and its spacing thereof fro-m the oor.

Figure 8 is a view in section, taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is a view in section, taken on line 3-9 of Figure '7, and looking in the direction of the 'aIITOWS.

Figure 10 is a view in section, taken on line III-I0 of Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 11 is a view in section, taken on line II--II ofV Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 12 is a view in section, taken on line I2--I2 of Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 13 is a view in section, taken on line I3--I 3 of Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 14 is a View in section, taken on line I4--I4 of Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows. Y

Figure 15 is a view in section, taken on line I 5-I 5 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 16 is a view in section, taken on line I5-I6 of Figures 3 and 15 and looking in the direction of the arrows. Y l

Figure 17 is a view in section, taken on line I'I-I'I of Figure 16, and looking in lthe direction( of the arrows. 4

Referring to the above drawings, a door is shown at I and may be of any desired shape or design. Handle 2 and push bars 3 are mounted thereon in the usual fashion and the door is adapted tobe mounted in a suitable doorway formed by a floor 4 and cornice 5 for suitably hanging the door, a tubular shaft 6 is provided within the lower end of which a pin 'I is welded or brazed. 'I'his pin is received within a bearing cup 8' which is threaded within a recessed member 9 having a flange IIl which is adapted yto be secured to the floor 4 and preferably lies flush therewith, as shown in Figure '7. A fiush plate I I is provided to close the recess formed by the member 9 and prevent the accumulation of foreign matter therein. The foregoing mechanism is thus received within a recess 12 within the foundation I3 and vertical adjustment of the bearing cup 8 may be effected by engagement of a suitable wrench with recesses I4 within the cup 8. To provide a suitable step bearing, the pin 1 is mounted upon a button I 5 which has a lower curved bearing surface and which is adapted to engage with a cooperating similarly formed opposed button IS, also having a curved bearing face. The construction thus facilitates the easy operation of the door. 5

The upper end of the tube 6 carries an axially movable pin I'i which is received within a bushing I8. The bushing is rigidly secured to the tube and a slot I9, formed in the tube, receives set screws 20 which are secured to the pin I'I. By l0 removing the lower set screw, see Figure 13, the pin may be dropped to the position indicated in dot and dash lines and the door thus easily removed. In the position shown in solid lines the pin engages a bearing 2I in a bracket 22, mounted 15 within the cornice 5 and thus hangs the door in a suitable fashion.

Extending horizontally from the bushing I8 and pin l are upper and lower arms 23 and 24, respectively. The extremity of the lower arm is 20 yformed with a stud 25 which is adapted to receive `a ball race 26 and thus journal the arm 24 upon a bracket 21 which has a downwardly extending cup-shaped extremity 28 within which a bearing 23 is received. The bracket 2l is secured to the 25 bottom of the door in a recess 30, formed therein in order that the arm may not constitute an objectionable protrusion to interrupt the profile and contour of the door. The foregoing construction is well illustrated in Figures 7, 8, and 9. 30

vUpper arm 23 engages a squared shaft 3| for operating a door closer and check in a manner which will be described hereinafter, the axis of such squared shaft being aligned with the axis of the stud 25 in order that the door may be 35 journaled upon a single vertical axis which lies. between the edges thereof. Movement of the door is guided by means of a roller 32 which is journaled upon a stub shaft 33 mounted upon the door. is mounted within the soit of the cornice. This groove or guide track 34 is preferably formed in the bracket 22 which is so formed as to be of suiiicient length to accommodate a groove of this character and lie within the sot of the cornice. 45.

'Ihe rroller 32 thus imparts a sliding movement to the door while the arms 23 impart a swinging or hinging movement thereto. Arms 23, in combination with the portion of the door between the axis of the shaft 3l and roller 33, constitute a toggle liov which is utilized, in a manner described hereinafter, to facilitate the closing and opening of the door.

Within the bracket 22 and in the upper wall of the groove 34, a door holder or detent 35 is 55 mounted, this detent being hinged at 36 and having a stop face 3l for engaging the roller 32, as illustrated in Figure 16. A finger hole 38 is formed in the detent to facilitate its adjustment in the position shown in Figure 16, and a leaf spring 39 is provided for engaging a cam 40 which is formed on the detent adjacent the pivot thereof. Spring 39 thus normally urges the detent into its retracted position as shown in Figure 4 and stop 4I, formed on the detent, limits the move- 35 ment thereof intothis normalposition. When the stop is moved to the position shown in Figure 16, the direction of pressure of the spring 39 upon cam`4 passes upon the other side of the axis 36, thus yieldingly maintaining the stop in its extended or stop position, as shown in Figure 16. i

Within the door'and preferably at the top thereof adjacent the shaft 3| is a cylinder 42 provided with heads 43 and 44. Against head 43 75.

This roller engages a track 34 which 40v a coil spring is seated, this spring being of sufficient diameter to permit the compression thereof by axial movement of piston 46 within the cylinder. The piston is formed with rack teeth 41 which engage a pinion 48 mounted upon the squared shaft 3| and thus relative rotation of the door about the shaft' 3l causes the piston 4B to be moved axially within the cylinder 42. The piston is formed with a head 49 which snugly engages the cylinder and thus forms, with the closed end of the cylinder, a chamber within which fluid may be compressed.

Piston'46 is drilled at 50 and5l to form ducts communicating between the space in the cylinder back of the piston head 49 and ducts to be described hereinafter. Duct 5l communicates with the compression chamber between the piston head 49 and cylinder head 46 and a ball check 52 permits fluid flow from the region back of the piston head to the above described space and prevents fluid flow in the reverse direction.

To afford the desired gradual checking effect, a duct 53 is formed in the cylinder wall 42 and provided with a-plurality of ports 54, 55, and 56. Port 5B communicates with the region back of the piston head and set screws 51 are provided for the ports 54 and 55 to provide a desired degree of restriction of the ports. In this fashion, movement of the piston may be progressively checked to any desired degree and the door thus brought to a closed position in a suitable fashion.

From Figure l2, it will be seen that the piston 42 is preferably formed of a casting including an offset portion 58 within which a recess 59 is formed. A bushing 6B is threaded into the top of this recess and serves as a bearing for the squared shaft 3| which is also journaled in the offset portion in its lower extremity. A set screw 6I is provided to lock the bushing 53 in a desired position and the cylinder casting is also preferably formed with an upper flanged surface B2 which forms the top of the door, extending a sufficient distance thereacross to serve as a support for the pivot shaft 33 of the guide roller 32. This structure is clearly shown in Figure 4. Adjacent the squared shaft 3|, and the edge of the door adjacent the tubular support 6, the casting is cut away at 63 to permit the nesting of arm 23 therein when the door is in a closed position.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a door mounting structure has been provided which is simple of construction and of great strength. The elements are few in number and are readily assembled and afford an effective means for hanging a door at a desired height. Provision is made for swinging the door in doorways of slightly varying dimensions without requiring a material change in the structure, thus adding to the convenience of the device and the .ability to standardize the parts thereof. Movement of the door to and from open and closed positions is effected with facility in view of the fact that a portion of the door swings in while another portion swings out, thus balancing the effective pressures upon the sides thereof to prevent wind pressure, etc., from resisting such movement. The toggle effect of the mounting mechanism including the arms 23 and pivot connections of the door thereto, in addition to .a portion of the door between such pivot connections and the guide rollers 32, facilitate a checking of the movement of the door as it approaches a closed position. The means for straightening out the toggle elements and thus closing the door is simple in construction and contained within 'the door itself, thus improvingthe appearance thereof and permitting doors '.offany design to be. used. Combined with thestraightening out elements is the door check describedv above, these. two devices being formed as a unit `and thus adding to the simplicity-of the structure.

While the invention has been described', with specific reference to the accompanying `drawings, it is not to be limited, save as ldei-ined in the appended'claims. i

I claim as my invention:

1. A'door mounting Vmeans comprising a hollow tubular shaft extending parallel to the doorjat one side thereof, parallel arms rigidly secured to the shaft-adjacent the ends thereof, .a pin rigidly securedinthe shaft at one end thereof, a pin slidably mounted in the shaft at the otherA end thereof, means to secure the ,last named pin to the shaft in a plurality of positions, and means to journal a door on the parallel arms.

2. Means to support a door-comprising'a vertical door carrying member, a recessed member, a step bearing in the recessed member to receive the door carrying member, and means Vto vary the position of the bearing in the recessed member. f

3. Means to support a door comprisinga vertical doorcarrying member, a flanged recessed member, means to secure the flange of the member to a floor, said recessed member being threaded internally, a. stepr bearing threaded in the recessed member to receive the door carrying member, and means to move the. bearing in the threaded member'.

4. Meansv to support a door-comprising a vertical door carrying member, lailanged recessed member, means to secure the flange of the member to a floor, said recessed member being threaded internally, a cup bearing threaded in the recessed member, means to vary the position of the cup in the member, a curved bearing member in the cup, land .a curved bearing member between the last named member andthe door 'carrying member.

. 5. Means to support a door comprising a vertical door carrying member, a flanged recessed member, means to secure the flange of the member to a floor, said recessed ,member being thread ed internally, acup threaded in the recessed member, means to varyl the position of the cup in the member, and a plurality of buttons in the cup for supporting the ldoor carrying `member, said buttons having opposed curved bearing surfaces.

.6. VIn combination with .a vertical door supporting member having an arm for carrying the `weight of a door, a recessed portion on a door to receive the arm, a bracketsecured to the bottom of the door in the recess and formed with a downwardly extending cup, said bracket being yspaced from the edge of the door adjacent the supporting member, an upwardly extending stud onthe extremity of the arm and received by the cup, and a bearing device between the Vcup and the arm.

' 7. A door mounting means' disposed in the plane ofthe door when the doo-r is closed, means hingeably supporting the ldoor on the mounting means, means actuated by the hinging means to 'urge the door to a normal position, and means actuated by the last named means to check movement of the door. 8. A door mounting means disposed in the plane of the door when the door is closed, means hingeably supporting the door on the mounting means,

means mounted within the door and actuated by the hinging means to urge the door to a normal position, and means actuated by the last named means to check movement of the door.

9. A door mounting means disposed in the plane of the door when the door is closed comprising a door supporting arm, means to hinge the door on the arm, and means on the door actuated by relative movement of the arm and door to urg the door to a normal position.

10. A door mounting means disposed in the plane of the door when the door is closed comprising a door supporting arm, means to hinge the door on the arm, and means on the door actuated by the hinge upon relative movement of the arm and door to urge the door to a normal position.

11. A door mounting means comprising an arm hinged at one end to a support and at the other end to a door between the vertical edges thereof, a guide engaging the support and disposed between the hinge connection of the arm to the door and the edge of the door distant from the arm, and means actuated by the hinge connection to urge the door to a normal position wherein the arm and door are each substantially in alignment.`

12. A door mounting means comprising an arm hinged at one end to a support and at the other end to a door between the vertical edges thereof, a guide engaging the support and disposed between the hinge connection of the arm to the door and the edge of the door distant from the arm, means actuated bythe hinge connection to urge the door to a normal position wherein the arm and door are substantially in alignment, and means actuated by the hinge connection to check movement of the door.

13. A door mounting means comprising an arm hinged at one end to a support and at the other end to a door between the vertical edges thereof, a guide engaging the support and disposed between the hinge connection of the arm to the door and the edge of the door distant from the arm, a rack carried by the door, a pinion actuated by the hinge connection of the door and engagingthe rack, and means to urge the rack to a normal position.

14. A door mounting means comprising an arm hinged at one end to a support and at the other end to a door between the vertical edges thereof, 'a guide engaging the support and disposed between the hinge connection of the arm to the door and the edge of the door distant from the arm, a'rack carried by the door, a'pinion actuated by the hinge connection ofthe door and engaging the rack, means to urge the rack to a normal positionV and means to check movement of the rack.

15. A door mounting means comprising an arm hinged at one end to a support and at the other end to a door between the vertical edges thereof, a guide' engaging the support and disposed between thehinge connection of the' arm to the door and the edge of the door distant from the arm, a cylinder carried by the door, a piston in the cylinder, a spring urging the piston to a normal position, a rack carried by the piston, and a pinion actuated by the hinge connection of the door and engaging the rack.

16. A door mounting means comprising an arm hinged at one end to a support and at the other end to a door between the vertical edges thereof, a guide engaging the support and disposed between the hinge connection of the arm to the door and the edge of the door distant from the arm, a cylinder carried by the door, a piston in the cylinder, a spring urging the piston to a normal position, a rack carried by the piston, a pinion actuated by the hinge connection of the door and engaging the rack, and passages and a check valve in the piston to prevent fluid flow from the cylinder in advance of the piston to the region back of the piston.

17. A door mounting means comprising an arm hinged at one end to a support and at the other end to a-door between the vertical edges thereof,

a guide engaging the support and disposed between the hinge connection of the arm to the door and the edge of the door distant from the arm, a cylinder carried by the door, a piston in the cylinder, a spring urging the piston to a normal position, a rack carried by the piston, a pinion actuated by the hinge connection of the door and engaging the rack, passages and a check valve in the piston to prevent fluid flow from the cylinder in advance of the piston to the region back of the piston, and passages and bleed valves in the cylinder to relieve compressed fluid in the cylinder in advance of the piston.

18. A door closing device comprising a fixture adapted to be mounted within a door and forming a portion of the top thereof, a cylinder formed in the xture and carrying a piston, a spring normally urging the piston to a normal position, a rack on the piston, ducts in the piston and cylinder to aiford a checking eifect on the movement of the piston to a normal position, an extension on the fixture forming a housing, a shaft journaled in the housing and adapted to be secured to a door mounting means, and a pinion secured to the shaft and engaging the rack.

19. In combination with a door mounted for Sliding and swinging movement, means for holding said door in a desired position, said means comprising a detent, means to mount the detent in the doorway and in the path of movement of the door, means to maintain the detent normally out of said path of movement of the door, and means to maintain the detent in door engaging position.

20. In combination with a door mounted for sliding and swinging movement, means for holding said door in a desired position, said means comprising a detent, means to mount the detent in the doorway and adjacent the path of the sliding movement of the door, and common means to maintain the detent out of the said path of movement of the door and in said path of movement upon actuation of the detent.

21. In combination with a door mounted for sliding and swinging movement, means for holding said door in a desired position, said means comprising a detent, means to mount the detent adjacent the path of the sliding movement of the door, a cam on the detent, and a spring engaging the cam and adapted either to hold the detent out of said path of movement of the door 0r in such path of movement upon actuation of the detent.

22. In combination with a door mounted for sliding and swinging movement, means for holding said door in a desired position, said means comprising a lever, means to pivot the lever adjacent the path of movement of the door, a detent on the lever to engage the door, said lever having a recess serving as a linger hole, and a spring engaging the lever to hold the same in a desired position,

23. In combination with a door mounted for sliding and swinging movement, means for holding said door in a desired position, said means comprising a lever, means to pivot the lever adjacent the path of movement of the door, a detent on the lever to engage the door, said lever having a recess serving as a nger hole, stops to limit movement of the lever in opposite directions, and a spring to maintain the leverl yieldingly in any stopped position.

24. In combination with a door mounted for sliding and swinging movement, means for holding said door in a desired position, said means comprising a lever, means to pivot the lever adjacent the path of movement of the door, a detent on the lever to engage the door, said lever having a recess serving as a nger hole, stops to limit movement of the lever in opposite directions, a cam on the lever, and a spring engaging the cam and mounted to urge the cam in either direction pasta dead center position.

25. In combination with a door mounted in a doorway for sliding and swinging movement, a door holder mounted in said doorway for engaging said door at a point intermediate the vertical edges thereof, and means for selectively maintaining said holder in door engaging position or out of door engaging position.

26. In combination with a door mounted in a doorway for sliding and swinging movement, a door holder mounted in said doorway for engaging said door at a point intermediate the vertical edges thereof, means for selectively maintaining said holder in door engaging position or out of 15 door engaging position, and -a finger hole in said holder to facilitate the manipulation thereof to and from door engaging position.

EDWARD H. ELLISON. 

